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1) FLOATING TUM'AH

(a) Question: Why does the 1st Tana say it is Tahor in either case?
(b) Answer (R. Yitzchak bar Avodimi - Contradiction): "Any rodent that swarms" - this implies, anywhere it swarms;

1. But it later says "On the ground"!
2. Resolution: If one definitely touched it, he is Tamei; if he is in doubt (when it was floating), he is Tahor.

(c) Question: Why is R. Shimon's source?
(d) Answer (Ula - Contradiction): "But a spring (will be Tahor)"; it also says "Will be Tamei"!
(e) Resolution: If it is floating in water in a vessel, when in doubt, the ruling is Tamei; if the water is in the ground, the ruling is Tamei.
(f) (Beraisa): All Tum'os that are carried or dragged - when in doubt, the ruling is Tamei, for it is as if they are resting;
(g) All doubtful Tum'os, when the Tum'ah or Taharah was thrown - the ruling is Tahor, except for thrown Tum'as Mes, one that was thrown above Tum'as Mes, and anything which imparts Tum'ah to what is on top of it just as what is below it (even without touching, e.g. a Zav).

(a) Question #1 (Rami bar Chama): Tum'as Mes is on a vessel which is floating on water.

1. Do we consider it to be resting in a vessel?
2. Or, do we view it as floating on the water?

(b) Question #2: If we consider it to be resting in a vessel - what if it is on a dead (floating) rodent?

1. Since Tum'as Mes imparts 7-day Tum'ah, and a rodent only imparts 1-day Tum'ah, it is as if the Tum'as Mes is on a vessel;
2. Or, do we view them as 1 Tamei entity floating?

(c) Question #2: If we consider it to be resting in a vessel - what if a rodent is on a carcass?

1. Since both of them impart 1-day Tum'ah, they are as 1 Tamei entity?
2. Or, since the quantity needed to impart Tum'ah is different (a carcass - an olive's worth; a rodent - a lentil's worth), it is as on a vessel?

(d) Question #3: What if a rodent is on a rodent?

1. Since the quantity to impart Tum'ah is the same, we view them as 1;
2. Or, since they are distinct, it is as on a vessel?

(e) Question #4: If we view it is as on a vessel - what if a rodent is on a dissolved carcass?

1. Since it is dissolved, it is as if the rodent is floating on a liquid;
2. Or, the carcass is considered a food (and not a liquid).

(f) Question #5: If the carcass is considered a food - what if the rodent is floating on semen (do we view it is a liquid; or, since it comes from the body, it is as a food)?
(g) Question #6: If it is considered a food - what if the rodent is floating on water sanctified with ashes of the red heifer (which is floating on plain water)?

1. This question is unresolved.

3) WHEN DOES THE LAW OF UNKOWN TUM'AH APPLY?

(a) (Rav Hamnuna): A Nazir or one about to offer the Pesach sacrifice passed over Tum'as ha'Tehom on the 7th day of purification from Tum'as Mes - they are Tahor.

1. Tum'as ha'Tehom is not strong enough to nullify a Nazir's count or dispel one from offering the Pesach.

(b) Question (Rava - Mishnah): If he went to immerse from Tum'as Mes, he is Tamei, for his Chazakah (status quo) was Tamei; if his Chazakah was Tahor, he would be Tahor.
(c) Answer (Rav Hamnuna): I admit by a Tamei Nazir that did not yet shave that the Tum'as ha'Tehom makes him Tamei. (I spoke of a Tamei Nazir that already shaved).
(d) (Rava): I admit that one about to offer the Pesach sacrifice is not lacking purification (therefore, the Tum'as ha'Tehom does not make him Tamei).
(e) Question (Abaye): But his purification is incomplete until nightfall!
(f) Answer (Rava): Nightfall comes by itself; he is not considered lacking purification.

1. Abaye later accepted this answer.
2. (Beraisa): If a woman miscarries after completing the 80 days of purification after giving birth to a girl, she brings another set of sacrifice for the miscarriage; if she miscarried within the 80 days, 1 set of sacrifices exempts both the birth and the miscarriage;
3. One might have thought, if she miscarried within 80 days of the birth, and had another miscarriage within the next 80 days (but more than 80 days after the birth), she must bring another set of sacrifices for the latter miscarriage - "In the completion of her days of purification", not during them.
4. (Rav Kahana): Because she miscarried before she was fitting to bring the 1st sacrifice, the 1st sacrifice also exempts the miscarriage.
5. Question: Also on the 81st day, it may be that she immersed that day and cannot bring the sacrifice until the next day!
6. Answer (Abaye): The sun sets by itself; it is as if she is fitting to bring sacrifices.